Do horses care what colour they are?

Question

Do horses care what colour they are?

Answer 1

I don't think they care what color they are or really what color other horses are although some color patterns tend to throw them off. I've heard most horses are terrified of Zebras and Zorse, I always assumed it was because of the srtipes since horses could care less about donkeys and mules.

When we first brought our stallion here ( a loud colored black & white Tovero) all the other horses spooked at him. He was the only spotted horse here at the time. After they got used to him they no longer mind any other spotted horses though.

Here, the younger horses will pick the oldest horse in the pasture to stay with and follow, doesn't seem to matter what color, these are everything from chestnut, black, buckskin, grey, bay, palomino to sorrel overo and blk/wht tovero.

The foal, yearling and 2yo fillies all follow the old 30+ pony gelding (a bay, chestnut and black, he's palomino). The young mares all stay around with the oldest mare (black, sorrel overo, and buckskin following a Chestnut). Interesting part there, is that they are in the same pasture but have two distinct groups.

Answer 2

I don't think so because horses are colourblind.

Answer 3

Don't believe so... But I suppose there is no proof either way. I have noticed (at least in my pastures) That the horses 'buddy up' according to color height and age. Maybe it's just coincidence.

Answer 4

I dont think so.But if u want proof,dye your horse.Maybe it will start behaving crazy.

Answer 5

i would if i were a horse

Answer 6

i dont think so

Answer 7

I do not think they care what color they are, but they definitely care what color other horses are.  I had one not like black horses because of a bad experience with one.  I have known studs that prefer sorrels or palominoes.

Answer 8

i don't think so because they all love being different and all colours to me r gawjuss

Answer 9

not that i would think of

Answer 10

im not sure, because horses carnt talk to tell you, but you never know they might do.

Answer 11

There is no reason to think so.

Answer 12

I don't think so. But the pony club I was at had this little grey pony (like white but grey - you know) and all the other horses (which were bays, chestnuts, blacks, browns) would chase it and they were never around the little grey when grazing either :S

Probs just a big coincidence but anyway.

Answer 13

um, i really dont think they even notice what color they r.

Answer 14

I don't believe the horse cares what color itself is, but I've read of rare cases where a stallion has a problem with mares of certain colors and will absolutely refuse to breed them!

Answer 15

i dont think so, but if want to test the theory, dye your horses bum, then see if he reacts.

Answer 16

i read in a horses book talking about wild horses that sometimes they dont like white horses and will chase them out of the herd because they dont blend in with the scenery and i guess i would say no because they become friends with any horse for that matter they dont care how tall they are and colour for that matter they just become friends or enemies. it depends on their personality the most i would think

Answer 17

no they are color blind but i have heard they can see the color blue and they would react more to that color then say red.Like if u were jumping for example

Answer 18

I don't necessarly think they care, but i have five haflingers in a field and two norikers which are also chestnust with a flaxen mane and tail, so the lot of them are the same colour. And especially my haflingers when out and if they see another horse a different colour they will literally stop and gaup, its so funny.

Answer 19

i don't think so, though i probably would if i were a horse

Answer 20

no they have no idea what color they are and they don't care either.  they can only see blue and yellow.  I have been told that about 99% of horses are scared of yellow...

another interesting fact:  horses are blind about 3 paces before the jump(they jump blindely)

hhaa i know that has nothin to do with it but it's interesting!!

Answer 21

Ive read that like what ZiggyBad said, horses would rather be friends with horses that are their own colour, height and age, than horses that are not. I find it unusual as they are colour blind, but i still think it is kinda true.

Answer 22

Horses are supposedly color blind, so they probably dont even realize the color difference between each other.